The Keith, created in the mid-23rd century, crewed 96 officers and crew on the mark I design. The mark III design had a capacity of 100 crew, with both modifications having room for up to 20 passengers or troops. Additionally, the Keith could carry 20,000 metric tons of cargo, rated at 400 SCU (standard cargo units). The mark I vessels weighed 61,595 metric tons, measured 180 meters in length, 80 meters in width and 80 meters in height. The mark III Keith vessels had an increased mass of 63,595 tons. The Keith had three standard (6 person) personnel transporters, one 22-person escape transporter stage and a three cargo transporters, two with large stages and one with a smaller stage. The control computer of the Keith vessels was of the M-1 type.

The Keithwarp engines were FWB-2 type, with the mark I fitted with impulse engines of the FIB-1 type and the mark III having impulse drive of the FIB-3 type. The Keithweapons had two dual-emitterphaserbanks, a total of four phaser emitters, with forward, aft, port and starboard firing arcs. The vessels had a single photon torpedolauncher with a forward firing arc. The mark I vessels had an FH-5 phaser system, FP-2 torpedo system and FSD deflector shields, while the mark III vessels were fitted with the FH-4 phaser system, FP-1 torpedo system and FSF model shields.

By stardate 2/2306, 172 mark I versions and 61 mark III versions of these ships had been constructed. Of the 202 that were built for Starfleet by that date, 54 of the mark III vessels remained in active service, with the remaining 101 mark I vessels having been placed in reserve fleets. One mark III vessel is in use by Star Fleet Training Command as a training vessel. 16 mark I and 4 mark III vessels had been recorded destroyed, with an additional 8 mark I ships and 2 mark III ships listed as missing. It should be noted that both of the missing mark III vessels disappeared in the Triangle sector. Twelve of the mark I vessels were scrapped and four sold into civilian service. By the later 23rd century, the production of the class contiued with eight vessels per year being built at Proxima Centauri and the Salazaar Shipyard. (FASA RPGmodule: Federation Ship Recognition Manual)